Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly made clear they are interested in improved diplomatic relations with the United States, and they were particularly eager to approach normalization of ties back when President Trump was talking up that idea.

But President Trump has since abandoned efforts to improve ties with Russia, at least publicly, and administration officials have tried to present the lack of diplomatic progress as Russia’s fault. Putin, it seems, wants to again underscore his nation’s interest in diplomacy.

There is no friendly competition in a capitalist system. The banks distribute funds to the parties of their choice, Wall Street selects the winners and dominators intentionally. It is all managed for the elite.

The damage to the relationship is entirely an internal American partisan political fight. Democrats use Russia as a boogeyman, and Republicans dodge the charge. Relations go in the tank, but politicians concentrate on their own internal concerns, and just don’t even see what they are doing to us, or if they see, just don’t care.